Subject–Verb Errors

What is Subject-Verb Agreement?

The verb must agree with its subject in number (singular/plural) and person.

A singular subject takes a singular verb.
A plural subject takes a plural verb.

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10 Golden Rules with Bilingual Examples

Rule 1: Collective Nouns take Singular Verb

Words like team, committee, government, family, group are singular.

number={1}
en="The committee has decided to postpone the meeting."
te="కమిటీ సమావేశాన్ని వాయిదా వేయాలని నిర్ణయించింది."
hi="समिति ने बैठक स्थगित करने का निर्णय लिया है।"
/>

Rule 2: 'Each', 'Every', 'Either', 'Neither' → Singular

number={2}
en="Each of the students has submitted the assignment."
te="విద్యార్థులలో ప్రతి ఒక్కరూ అసైన్‌మెంట్ సమర్పించారు."
hi="प्रत्येक छात्र ने असाइनमेंट जमा किया है।"
/>

Rule 3: 'Along with', 'As well as', 'Together with' → verb agrees with FIRST subject

number={3}
en="The teacher, along with the students, was present at the ceremony."
te="విద్యార్థులతో పాటు ఉపాధ్యాయుడు కూడా వేడుకలో ఉన్నారు."
hi="छात्रों के साथ-साथ शिक्षक भी समारोह में उपस्थित थे।"
/>

Rule 4: 'None of' → Usually Singular in formal English

number={4}
en="None of the answers is correct."
te="సమాధానాలలో ఏ ఒక్కటీ సరైనది కాదు."
hi="कोई भी उत्तर सही नहीं है।"
/>

Rule 5: 'Either…or' / 'Neither…nor' → verb agrees with NEAREST subject

number={5}
en="Neither the teachers nor the principal was informed."
te="ఉపాధ్యాయులకు గానీ, ప్రిన్సిపాల్‌కు గానీ తెలియపర్చలేదు."
hi="न शिक्षकों को और न प्रधानाचार्य को सूचित किया गया।"
/>

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Step 1: Find the subject of the sentence (ignore phrases between commas).
Step 2: Check if the subject is singular or plural.
Step 3: Check if the verb matches.
Step 4: Watch for 'along with', 'as well as', 'together with' — they don't change the subject!

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Common Mistakes to Spot

mistakes={[
{
wrong: "The committee have decided to postpone.",
right: "The committee has decided to postpone.",
explanation: "Collective nouns (committee, team, jury) take singular verbs.",
},
{
wrong: "Neither of the boys have finished.",
right: "Neither of the boys has finished.",
explanation: "'Neither' is singular — use 'has', not 'have'.",
},
{
wrong: "The teacher along with students are present.",
right: "The teacher along with students is present.",
explanation: "'Along with' is a parenthetical phrase. The main subject is 'teacher' (singular) → 'is'.",
},
{
wrong: "Each of the answers are wrong.",
right: "Each of the answers is wrong.",
explanation: "'Each' is always singular → 'is', not 'are'.",
},
]}
/>

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Quick Quiz

questions={[
{
question: "Spot the error: 'The jury have reached a unanimous decision.'",
options: [
"The jury",
"have reached",
"a unanimous decision",
"No error",
],
correctIndex: 1,
explanation: "'Jury' is a collective noun and takes a singular verb. Correct: 'The jury HAS reached'.",
},
{
question: "Choose the correct sentence:",
options: [
"Neither of the students have passed.",
"Neither of the students has passed.",
"Neither of the student has passed.",
"None of the students has pass.",
],
correctIndex: 1,
explanation: "'Neither' is singular → 'has passed'.",
},
{
question: "Fill in the blank: 'The principal, along with all teachers, ___ the meeting.'",
options: ["attended", "have attended", "are attending", "attend"],
correctIndex: 0,
explanation: "'Along with all teachers' is parenthetical. Subject is 'the principal' (singular) → 'attended'.",
},
]}
/>